Empower children to lead with courage, compassion, and purpose.
Vision | Why We Do It
Inspire the next generation to change the world.
Values | Ideas We Live By
DISCOVERY
Curiosity, creativity, and joyful inquiry drive learning. We explore diverse paths to ask and answer questions, generate solutions, and better understand ourselves and our world.
AUTHENTICITY
Individuality, expression, and self-acceptance are essential to personal growth and development. True to ourselves, we develop our unique identities and capacity to navigate a complex world.
COMMUNITY
We are a diverse, inclusive community where everyone belongs. We are leaders – prepared, connected, and responsible to each other and to our local and global communities.
OUR FACULTY IS INFORMED BY THE BEST PRACTICES IN TEACHING AND LEARNING. OUR STUDENTS ARE DEEP THINKERS, FULLY ENGAGED LEARNERS.
Key Beliefs
EVERYONE CAN LEARN MATH
There is no such thing as a “math person.”
EFFORT IS THE KEY
Math takes time to learn.
MANY WAYS TO SOLVE A PROBLEM
Creativity and flexibility are critical.
PICTURE IT
Understanding math improves and connections are strengthened when we make math visual.
UNDERSTANDING > SPEED
Depth of understanding is more important than how quickly a student can solve a problem.
MISTAKES ARE VALUABLE
They provide opportunities to learn.
LET’S TALK ABOUT IT
Questions and discussions allow us to deepen our understanding.
OPEN MINDS OPEN DOORS TO LEARNING
A growth mindset is necessary when it comes to learning math.
EMPOWERING CHILDREN TO LEAD
With Courage:
We offer students a variety of challenging and open-ended problems to solve; students learn to embrace the struggles, the missteps, the wrong turns — because those are opportunities for growth. Learning and leadership opportunities naturally arise through mixed-ability and other group settings, allowing our students to take ownership of their learning journey. As faculty, we recognize our responsibility to model a positive mathematical mindset, and praise the process instead of the person.
With Compassion:
Team-building activities are a critical component of math class; at the same time we support every student’s need for individual instruction. Students each take on a leadership role during team activities, and have the opportunity to present a complex solution to their classmates. As a result, our students learn to advocate for themselves and each other through active listening and by engaging in meaningful discussions.
With Purpose:
By making real-world connections to mathematical applications, our students gain appreciation for the significance of concepts they will encounter in other areas of their life. Open-ended problems promote critical thinking, while collaborative learning provides a forum for students to articulate their ideas.
WE BUILD STRONG FOUNDATIONS FOR COMPLEX THINKING.
FOOTE MATHEMATICIANS
HAVE THE SKILLS AND THE VISION TO CREATE THEIR OWN PATH FORWARD.
OUR STUDENTS ARE ALWAYS REACHING FOR SOMETHING MORE, AND ARE PROUD TO BE EXACTLY WHO THEY ARE.
LEARNING THROUGH DISCOVERY
Our student-centered approach prioritizes hands-on activities, guided exploration, and investigation.
The result? Meaningful engagement, keen problem-solving skills, the ability to parse big concepts, motivation to build on these skills, and the confidence to test their limits.
DISCOVERY:
MANIPULATIVES
Using blocks or tiles to visually discover geometric patterns and relationships between shapes.
OPEN - ENDED PROBLEMS
Encouraging exploration and critical thinking by presenting students with problems that have multiple solutions or approaches.
DATA ANALYSIS
Gathering data from real-world scenarios and using graphs and charts to identify trends and patterns.
LEARNING THROUGH AUTHENTICITY
Students create inquiries inspired by real-world situations and connections with their community.
Meaningful connections with the material occur as students’ depth of understanding increases. As a result, they develop a positive association with math which we hope stays with them long after they leave Foote.
AUTHENTICITY:
INVESTIGATING LOCAL DEMOGRAPHICS
Using blocks or tiles to visually discover geometric patterns and relationships between shapes.
MODEL- BUILDING
Designing a scale model of a building or room, requiring students to calculate measurements and proportions.
BUDGETING
Creating a personal budget based on income and expenses, analyzing financial data and making informed decisions.
COMMUNITY SERVICE
Planning a community event, calculating costs, and determining resource allocation.
LEARNING THROUGH COMMUNITY
Students discover real-world applications through projects that focus on social justice and collaboration.
Inspired by a pedagogy of cultural relevance, our students build strong bonds with their community through math projects that focus on community engagement and collaborative learning.
COMMUNITY:
URBAN PLANNING PROJECT
Students use geometry and data analysis to design a community park, considering factors like accessibility and space utilization.
ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING
Students collect data on local air quality or water pollution and use statistics to analyze trends and propose solutions.
COMMUNITY GARDEN PROJECT
Students use geometry to plan garden plots, calculate necessary supplies, and track plant growth.
Math in the Lower School
Focusing on numbers, operations, shapes and relationships, this intentional and systematic approach introduces our young mathematicians to new skills. Hands-on activities build understanding as our students progress toward abstract and complex problem-solving.
“IN THE LOWER GRADES, THERE’S A LOT OF INQUIRY THAT INSPIRES OUR LESSONS. THOSE
EXPLORATIONS LEND
THEMSELVES BEAUTIFULLY
TO A HANDS-ON LEARNING APPROACH.”
HEATHER ZETTERBERG, FOOTE MATH SPECIALIST
Math in the Middle School
Building on the foundations our students established in Lower School, Middle School math focuses on algebra and geometry, with an emphasis on algebraic reasoning, complex operations, and higher-level thinking. Students are placed in levels and sections through careful consideration and evaluation.
Grade 6
Grade 7
Grade 6 Math
Pre-Algebra
Honors Pre-Algebra
Honors Algebra 1
Grade 8 Grade 9
Algebra 1
Honors Algebra 1
Honors Geometry
Algebra 1 Year 2
Geometry
Honors Geometry
Algebra 2
“WE GET TO KNOW WHAT EACH STUDENT NEEDS, AND MAKE SURE THEY’RE EXTENDED AND CHALLENGED. A LOT OF HARD WORK GOES INTO THE FOUNDATION THAT WE BUILD UPON.”
JOHN HAY, MIDDLE SCHOOL MATH CHAIR
CLASSROOM EXPERIENCES:
ARE ACTIVE & ENGAGING
INVITE QUESTIONS & ENCOURAGE COMMUNICATION CALL ON NUMBER & OPERATION SENSE
REQUIRE FLEXIBILITY, EFFICIENCY, & ACCURACY
PROVIDE CHALLENGES
INCLUDE LOW-FLOOR, HIGHCEILING TASKS
FOCUS ON SKILL DEVELOPMENT:
PROCEDURAL & CONCEPTUAL
The Foote School Math Program develops foundational skills and higher-order thinking. Our students are empowered to approach challenges with confidence and creativity. We plan and build and experiment and explore. We collaborate and debate and reflect and revise. We welcome the struggles, the missteps, the wrong turns — because those are opportunities for growth. The result? Our students develop the skills and the vision to create their own path forward and make meaningful contributions to their community.
